Aeropesca Colombia / Intercontinental de Aviación was an airline based in Bogotá, Colombia. It operated domestic services and flights to neighbouring countries. Its main base was located at El Dorado International Airport, Bogotá, with a secondary hub at Alfonso Bonilla Aragón International Airport) in Cali.
The airline was founded and started operations in 1965 as Aeropesca Colombia.
The airline was forced to cease operating in September 2005 following the crash of West Caribbean Airways Flight 708 in Venezuela. After the crash, the Colombian Civil Aviation authority required that all airlines undergo a special inspection of its maintenance facilities and aircraft. Intercontinental de Aviación was one of three airlines forced to cease operating due to a failure of these inspections (along with Aerotaca and West Caribbean itself).
The Aeropesca Colombia / Intercontinental de Aviación fleet consisted of:
Vickers Viscount
Curtiss C-46 Commando
de Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter (Not operated)
Bombardier Q300
McDonnell Douglas DC-9-15
McDonnell Douglas DC-9-30 (Not operated)
Boeing 727-100
Boeing 737-300 (Not operated)
Beechcraft 1900D (Not operated)
Accidents and incidents
On 21 January 1974, a Vickers Viscount of Aeropesca Colombia was hijacked and diverted to Cali.
On 14 August 1978, an Aeropesca Colombia Curtiss C-46F-1-CU Commando (registration HK-1350) flying in worsening weather conditions drifted off course during a flight from Bogotá to Tame and crashed into Mount Paramo de Laura near Tota, Colombia, killing all 18 people in board. Certified to carry only six passengers, it had 15 passengers on board at the time of the crash.
On 26 August 1981, Vickers Viscount HK-1320 of Aeropesca Colombia flew into Mount Santa Elena killing all 50 people on board.
On 26 March 1982, Vickers Viscount HK-2382 of Aeropesca Colombia flew into a mountain near Queate while on a flight from La Vanguardia Airport to El Dorado International Airport, killing all 21 people on board.
On 31 March 1991, Vickers Viscount HK-1708 of Intercontinental de Aviación was damaged beyond economic repair while on a flight from El Dorado International Airport to Gustavo Rojas Pinilla International Airport. Both artificial horizons failed in turbulence at 16,000 feet (4,900 m). Control of the aircraft was regained at 4,000 feet (1,200 m) and a successful emergency landing was made at Olaya Herrera Airport, Medellin. The lower main spar was found to have cracked. The aircraft had previously suffered a gear collapse on 14 February 1988.
On 11 January 1995, Intercontinental de Aviación Flight 256, a McDonnell Douglas DC-9 HK-3839X crashed on approach near Maria La Baja. The accident killed 52 passengers and crew; one person survived the crash.
